Coin testing and ejecting mechanism for vending machines



B. w. FRY 1,979,377

CORN TESTING AND EJECTING MECHANIISM FOR VENDING MACHINES Nov. 6, 1934.

Filed June 12, 195s nin-m Patented Nov. 6, 1934` COIN TESTING AND EJECTING MECHANISM FOR VENDING MACHINES Benjamin W. Fry, St. Louis, Mo.

Application June 12, 1933, Serial No. 675,489

This invention relates to vending machines and more particularly to novel means for automatically ejecting any coins of less than a standard or predetermined weight which may be inserted in the coin chute in an attempt to fraudulently obtain merchandise.

The object of the invention is to provide a comparatively simple and thoroughly ecient device of this character capable of ready applcation to any type of vending machine and by means of which coins of a lesser weight than that intended to operate the vending mechanism will be automatically ejected by gravity and coins of the exact weight or a greater weight than a standard coin will be directed to the operating mechanism to permit proper functioning of the machine.

A further object is to provide an ejecting device the construction of which is such that jamming or clogging of the mechanism by coins inserted in the coin chute is rendered practically impossible as the inserted coins are either accepted or rejected during their passage through the coin chute and proper and continuous operationof the vending mechanism thereby assured.

A further object is to provide an automatic coin ejector embodying in its structure a weighing lever disposed in the path of the coins and responsive to a coin of a predetermined weight to tilt the lever and permit passage of the coin to the operating mechanism, and means coacting with the '-lever for ejecting a coin of less weight from the coin chute.

A further object is to provide means for balancing the weighing lever and means for adjusting the active end of the weighing lever with respect to the coin discharge opening.

A still further object of the invention is generally to improve this class of devices so as to 40 increase their utility, durability and eiliciency.

ln the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specication and in which similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the gures of the drawing:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a. coin ejecting device constructed in accordance -with the present invention, showing a slug or a coin of less weight than a standard coin in position to be ejected from the coin chute.

Figure 2 is a similar View with a portion o1* the face plate broken away and showing the position of the operating mechanism when a coin of the proper weight or of a weight greater than a standard weight coin is inserted in the coin chute.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view taken on 6u the line 5-5 of Figure' 1.

Figure 6 is a. detail sectional View taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 1.

, The improved coin testing and ejecting mechanism forming the subject matter of the present invention may be used in connection with any type of coin actuated vending machine and as the present invention is not concerned with the vending mechanism but primarily with the means for ejecting defective coins, only a portion of the vending machine, namely, the coin chute 5, has been illustrated.

The device comprises a casting or back 6 preferably angular in form and having its front face channeled or recessed to form a coin passage '7, 75 the upper end of which communicates with the main chute 5 and is adapted to receive a coin inserted in said coin chute. The lower portion of the coin passage 7 discharges through thelower end of the casting, as indicated at 8, while the 8@ intermediate portion 9 of the coin passage is inclined downwardly and communicates with the upper and lower ends vof the passage, as shown, whereby a circuitous route is provided for the coins. Secured to the front of the casting 6 and 85 forming a closure for the coin passage 7 is a face plate 10 preferably detachably Secured to thecasting by screws or other similar fastening devices 11 so that the plate may be readily removed when it is desired or necessary to obtain access to the mechanism. Formed in the face plate 10 adjacent the lower end of the inclined passage 9 and communicating therewith is a discharge opening l2 through which defective coins or slugs are ejected, as will be more fully described hereinafter. Depending from the rear portion of the casting andpreferablyarranged at a 'slight angle to the longitudinal plane'thereof is a depending inverted U-shaped bracket 13, Vthe arms of which are connected with the casting and face plate, respectively, by bolts 14 extending through spacing sleeves or collars 15 and provided with clamping nuts 16 whereby the bracket may be rigidly secured in position on the casting. Pivotally mounted within the bracket 13 is a weighing lever 105 1'7 having its forward or active end 18 reduced in thickness and oiset with respect to its rear end so that it will normally extend partially across the lower wall of the discharge opening 12 and parallel. therewith, as best shown in Figure 1 11@ ofthe drawing. The rear end of the weighing lever ls provided with oppositely disposed trunnions or bosses 19 having conical shaped sockets 20 formed therein and adapted to receive pivot screws or pins 21 whereby the lever may be fulcrumed within the bracket so that its free or reduced end is movable in a path across the discharge opening. The rear end of the weighing lever 17 is provided with a depending weight or extension 22, the upper en'd of which is formed with a slot 23 and slidably mounted on the upper edge of said extension is a counterpoise 24 preierably of inverted U-shape in cross section and through which extends a clamping screw 25 for holding the counterpoise in adjusted'pcsition on the weighing lever. It is obvious that by loosening the clamping screw 25 the counterpoise may be adjusted longitudinally of the weighing lever to properly balance the same and after the proper balance of the lever has been effected the counterpoise may be rigidly secured in adjusted position by tightening the screw 25. The lower end of the bracket 13 is provided with a lateral lug 26 having an opening therein in which is threaded an adjusting screw 27, the free end of which bears against the lower edge of the weighing lever so that by adjusting the screw 27 the reduced end 18 of the weighing lever may be positioned with the upper edge thereof parallel with and slightly above the lower edge of the discharge opening l2 and in position to receive a coin as the latter passes through the passage 7. A nut 28 is preferably threaded on the screw 27 and bears against the lug 26 for the purpose of holding the screw in adjusted position. Secured to the face-plate 10 adjacent the discharge opening is a flat spring 29, the free end of which is bent or inclined inwardly to form a resilient lip 30 which extends across the intermediate portion of the coin chute with its end seated in a recess 31 formed in the back plate and spaced slightly from the rear wall of the recess so as to permit free flexing of the lip under the impact of a coin passing through the intermediate portion 9 of the coin passage. The rear end of the spring is preferably enlarged and rigidly secured to the face plate by a screw 32. The metal constituting the front plate is bent or deflectedlaterally immediately over the top of .the coin travels over the weighing lever, the

weight of the coin will depress the forward end of the weighing lever and permit the coin vto pass downwardly and be discharged through the opening 8 where it will pass to the mechanism for operating the vending machine. Should the coin be of greater weight than standard said coin will also depress the lever and be discharged through the opening 8. Should, however, a coin of a less weight than a standard coin be inserted in the chute 5 in an attempt to fraudulently obtain merchandise, said defective coin will roll over the end directly above the discharge opening said lip 33 will direct the coin laterally and outwardly so as to automatically eject the same from the coin passage and this ejection of the coin is materially facilitated by gravity. It will, of course, be understood that after the forward end 18 of the lever has been depressed to permit the passage of a legitimate coin, the counterpoise 24 will automatically return the end 18 of the weighing lever to normal position ready to receive another coin. It will thus be seen that by reasonl of the construction and arrangement of parts the device will effectually prevent jamming or clogging of the machine as coins are either accepted or rejected, according to whether they are standard or under weight so that the vending machine to which the device is attached may be continuously operated and without the necessity of dismantling the machine in order to remove clogged or obstructed coins. From the foregoing description it is thought that the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood by those skilled in the art and further description is deemed unnecessary.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is: l

l. `In a vending machine, the combination with a coin chute having a discharge opening communicating therewith, a weighing lever extending within the chute and actuated by a coin of predetermined weight to tilt said lever and permit passage of the coin, and a spring secured to the chute at one end of the discharge opening and having an inclined resilient lip projecting within said opening and across the coin passage and coacting with the lever for ejecting a coin of less weight from said chute.

2. In a vending machine, the combination with a coin chute having a discharge opening therein, the upper wall of which is bent laterally to form a deflector, of a weighing lever extending within the chute and having its free end disposed at said Adischarge opening and actuated by a coin of predetermined weight to tilt said lever and permit passage of the coin, and a spring secured to the chute and having a terminal inclined resilient lip extending across the chute and coacting with the lever for discharging a coin of less weight against the deflector and thence out of the coin chute.

3. In a vending machine, the combination with a coin chute having a discharge opening, of a bracket depending from the chute, a weighing lever fulcrumed in the bracket and having its forward end reduced and normally extended slightly above and substantially parallel with the lower wall of said discharge opening, an adjustable counterpoise carried by the rear end of the weighing lever, an adjusting screw forming a st op for the rear end of the lever, and a spring secured to the chute and having its` free end extended across the coin chute to form a terminal resilient lip. y

4. In a vending machine, the combination with a chute having a discharge opening therein and provided with a recess opposite said discharge opening, of a weighing lever pivotally mounted on the chute and having its forward end normally disposed slightly above and substantially parallel with the lower wall of the discharge opening, and a spring secured to the chute and having its free end inclined laterally to form a resilient lip the terminal of which is seated in said recess.

5. In a vending machine, the combination with of the counterpoise and coacting with the rear end of the lever.

6. In a vending machine, the combination with a coin chute having a lateral discharge opening therein, an inverted U-shaped bracket depending from the chute and provided with a lateral lug, a weighing lever fulcrumed within the bracket and having its forward end extending slightly above and substantially parallel with the lower wall of the discharge opening, a spring secured to the chute and provided with a resilient lip ex-4 tending withn the discharge opening and in the path of a coin in the chute, a counterpoise carried by the leyer, and an adjusting screw threaded in the lug and bearing against said lever between the bracket and counterpoise.

7. A coin testing device comprising a coin chute having a circuitous passage and provided with a lateral discharge opening, a weighing lever fulcrumed on the chute and having its inner `end offset and its upper longitudinal edge at said onset portion extended slightly above and disposed substantiallyparallel with the lower wall of the discharge opening, said lever being actuated b y a coin of predetermined weight deposited in said chute and traveling over said longitudinal edge to tilt the lever and permit downward passage of the coin, and an ejector secured to the chute at one end of the discharge opening and having an inclined resilient lip extending within and across said discharge opening and coacting with the lever for automatically ejecting a coin of a less wei'ght from the circuitous passage through said opening.

8. A coin testing device comprising a coin chute having adownwardly inclined ,intermediate passage 'and provided at the lower end of said passage with a lateral discharge opening, a weighing lever fulcrumed on the chute and having its weighing end inclined to conform to the inclination of the intermediate passage and extending partially across and slightly above the lower wall of said discharge opening, said lever being actuat` ed by a coin of a predetermined weight deposited in said chute and traveling over said lever to depress the same and permit downward passage of the coin, and an ejector secured to the chute at one end of the discharge opening and provided with an inclined lip projecting within the opening and across the intermediate passage and coacting with the lever for automatically ejecting a coin of a less weight through said opening. 

